State Briefs 10/31/08

ROCKFORD – Rockford native Bob Greenblatt was named programming executive of the year at the inaugural CableFAX Program Awards, Wednesday in Washington.

Greenblatt is president of entertainment for Showtime Networks.

Also at the awards luncheon, FX drama “The Shield,” created by Rockford native Shawn Ryan, was inducted into the CableFAX Hall of Fame.

The awards, hosted by cable-industry news provider CableFAX, honored the best of the year’s cable programming.

Rockford Register Star

Man sentenced to 100 years for killing landlord

PEORIA – A West Bluff man was sentenced to 100 years in prison Friday afternoon for killing his landlord last fall.

Circuit Judge James Shadid told Allen Brown, 36, that he made the sentence for himself by spending much of the past 16 years in and out of prison. The judge also noted the savage way Hung Tien was killed as another reason for the sentence, which was the maximum.

An enhanced sentence was issued because of Tien’s age, 68, when he was killed.

Brown maintained he didn’t kill Tien on Nov. 26. The man had been attacked with a ball-peen hammer and a pry bar in a beating that Assistant State’s Attorney Nancy Mermelstein said was "kill and overkill."

Peoria Journal Star

Body, missing woman’s car found

CHILLICOTHE — A body has been found in the Illinois River, along with the car belonging to Lois Hundemer, a 71-year-old Peoria Heights woman who went missing Tuesday, officials said.

Using a sonar-equipped boat and a dive team, police searched a section of the river near Chillicothe this morning after receiving a tip from a family member that Hundemer may have threatened to drive her car into the river in the past.

Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll has not yet confirmed the body is that of Hundemer, but more information is forthcoming.

Peoria Journal Star

County clerk may be able to avoid testifying

SPRINGFIELD – Sangamon County Clerk Joe Aiello may not have to answer questions at a disciplinary hearing for an Illinois state trooper after all.

Circuit Judge Eric Pistorius of Jerseyville said earlier this month that Aiello must respond to a subpoena and testify at a disciplinary hearing for Trooper R. Michael Jennings once Aiello receives a letter of immunity from the Illinois attorney general’s office. Jennings, a longtime friend of Aiello, allegedly told Aiello to stay away from the Springfield home of a man involved in a local cocaine ring.

But the attorney general’s office said Thursday there would be no immunity letter forthcoming because the office says it doesn’t have jurisdiction in the matter.

Aiello’s attorney, Jay Elmore, disagreed, saying the law allows the attorney general’s office to take over the case from the appellate prosecutor at any time.

Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent alleges Jennings knew that state police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration were investigating Gerald Vondebur, one of nine men who ultimately pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and was sent to prison, and told Aiello.